Clarify HKIEd review call: lawmaker

The government should justify its call for a judicial review of the findings of the commission of inquiry into allegations of political interference in the affairs of the Hong Kong Institute of Education, a legislator has said.

The Civic Party's Audrey Eu Yuet-mee said at the Legislative Council's education panel meeting on Thursday that the government should explain why it was questioning the findings of an independent inquiry.

'I would like the government to clarify its stance on institutional autonomy in this court case. I think we should know about that,' she said.

However, the Liberal Party's Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee said it was inappropriate for Legco to discuss the case because legal proceedings were under way.

The government applied for the judicial review last month alleging some of the report's findings were 'not only wrong in law and in principle but also affect the dealings between government officials and academic institutions in the future and in the formulation and implementation of education policies'.

The report concluded that former permanent secretary for education and manpower Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun acted improperly by demanding critics of government education policy be silenced.